Photo provided Cortland YMCAA field of almost 500 runners heads down Tompkins Street at the start of the 16th annual Turkey Trot 5K road race held this past Thursday morning in Cortland. Patrick Murphy and Natilie Mackenzie were the race winners in the event co-sponsored by the Salvation Army and Cortland YMCA.

Nearly 500 runners left their birds in the oven while working up appetite competing in the 12th annual Turkey Trot 5K this past Thursday morning, the final road race on the Fidelis 6-Pack running series held in Cortland.
Patrick Murphy and Natilie Mackenzie were the race winners in the event co-sponsored by The Salvation Army and Cortland County Family YMCA. With 477 registered runners and walkers, the Turkey Trot continues to be the largest 5K race in the Fidelis 6-Pack series.
The race started and ended at the YMCA on Tompkins Street. In cool conditions runners strutted down through Tompkins, Sands and Warren Streets, through SUNY Cortland just past the Alumni Stadium and back.
The 26-year-old Murphy led the field with a winning time of 16 minutes and 28 seconds. Mackenzie, 29, was the fastest female in 19:20. Both were first-time Turkey Trot winners.
Participants were encouraged to bring a non perishable food item to the Turkey Trot to help stock the Army’s pantry. “The Salvation Army needs any extra food during this needy holiday season,” said YMCA Executive Director Don Kline.
Unique to the Turkey Trot, first place finishers received a frozen turkey, second place received an apple or pumpkin pie, and third place a loaf of bread. Murphy and Mackenzie, as overall winners, received all three prizes, enough to make a meal.
The YMCA thanked Fidelis 6-Pack Turkey Trot sponsors Fidelis, Graph-Tex, Borg Warner, Cortland Regional Sports Council, DLH Properties, Contento’s Demolition, Cortland Regional Medical Center, Royal Motors, Fleet Feet and Plan First Technologies. The YMCA would also recognize the HealthyNOW program for having five of its participants obtain sponsorships and run in the 5K.
Peggy Eck, co-race Director of the Fidelis 6-Pack, singled out all the volunteers who helped the Turkey Trot become such a success year after year. “We have dedicated volunteers who help race after race, year after year and I, and the YMCA, cannot thank them enough.” said Eck.
Full race results can be viewed online at www.cortlandymca.org.
The final results of the Fidelis 6-Pack Series — where points are tabulated from six races — will be posted on-line soon with a celebration to follow. Commemorative long sleeve shirts were given to anyone registered for the Turkey Trot before Nov. 15.